Firsts and Lasts

As the release date for Deep Autumn Heat approaches (can it really only be two days away?), and as things heat up for the Romance Writers of America National Conference in late July, I realize that I’m sitting on a mountain of “firsts.” First blog tour. First book published. First review. First time talking with strangers who want to read the novel (love this part!). First RWA national conference. First author conference of any kind, actually.

I’ve never been huge on firsts. For the most part, I’m usually too shocked to process what is happening. True story: I got my first kiss in the third grade. I was sitting at my desk, and someone came up behind me and tapped me on the shoulder. I looked left. Nothing. I looked right. Nothing. A boy said, “Up here!” I looked up, and he kissed me right on the lips. I was so surprised that I stood up and punched him right in the face! (My second kiss, much, much later, was lovely).

So for the most part, I go about my daily life, trying not to freak out about the book or the reviews or the scrutiny. I work. I try to exercise. I take care of my kids and my husband. I do laundry. I work on copyedits for my next book (Blaze of Winter is all set for a September release, yay!).

And then someone tweets about the Literacy Signing at RWA, where I’ll actually be autographing copies of Deep Autumn Heat, and I think, “Whoa! Is this really happening?” Or a friend wil ask me how I feel about my book coming out, and I’ll say, “Excited. Scared. Humbled.”

For as much as I realize that this is about firsts, it’s also about lasts. This, for example, is the last time I’ll be posting on this blog as an unpublished author. And instead of someone asking me when “the book is coming out,” they’ll ask when “the next book is coming out.” Will I feel less nervous? I doubt it, but at least it won’t be the first time.

See you on the backside (of July 9th)!